Night on Terror Island Read Online Free PDF Page A

Norman?’
    ‘Oh, well,’ said Norman. ‘I don’t normally drink alcohol but, as it’s a special occasion, I’ll have a little drop of red.’ Dad uncorked a bottle and filled a couple of the crystal glasses. ‘Mr Lazarus?’
    ‘I’ll go for the
Tocai Fruliano
,’ he said. ‘Fifty-one
was
a spectacular year.’
    Dad looked at him.
    ‘So this must be your doing,’ he said.
    ‘I hope you don’t mind,’ said Mr Lazarus. ‘I thought an occasion like this demanded something special – and, of course, you cannot drink vintage wine from a paper cup.’ Dad filled a glass with white wine and handed it to him, then passed out drinks to the other guests.
    ‘You must let me know what you’ve spent,’ he told Mr Lazarus. ‘I can’t allow you to pay for this out of the pittance I’m going to be paying you …’ Dad looked mortified. ‘Oh, my goodness,’ he said. ‘We never even discussed your salary, did we?’
    Mr Lazarus waved a hand in dismissal.
    ‘It is no great matter, Mr McCall. Pay me whatever you used to pay Norman. And as for the wine … well, that is my pleasure. Consider it my little contribution to this charming party.’
    ‘You’re really too generous.’ Dad picked up his glass of red and then lifted it in a toast. ‘Well, we all know why we’re here tonight, to say thank you to Norman, who has been a vital part of the Paramount for so many years. We really couldn’t have kept going without him. To Norman,’ he said, ‘wishing you every happiness in your retirement.’
    ‘To Norman!’ everyone raised their glasses in unison and they all drank.
    Norman looked around, a little misty-eyed.
    ‘How kind,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t expecting anything like this.’
    Kip stepped forward with the cards and handed them to Norman. There was an awkward silence while he opened each of them and examined them in great detail. Beth had actually found a card featuring an old black-and-white photograph of a silent-movie cinematographer. The message inside read,
To The World’s Greatest Movie Buff
.
    ‘It took me ages to find the right card,’ said Beth. ‘No idea who the guy in the picture is, but I thought you’d like it.’
    Mr Lazarus leaned across to look at the photograph.
    ‘It’s Wallace Evans,’ he said. ‘A charming fellow, very fond of chocolate cake, as I remember.’
    ‘You … know him?’ gasped Beth.
    ‘I
knew
him,’ said Mr Lazarus. ‘He’s gone now, of course. But we had some happy times together.’
    Now Dad stepped forward with the gift box.
    ‘We’ve bought you something,’ he said. ‘It’s really not very much and, of course, if the style doesn’t suit, you can always exchange it for something else.’
    ‘I’m sure it will be perfect,’ said Norman. ‘Thank you so much.’ He opened the box and looked at the contents. For a few moments he said nothing and Kip couldn’t really blame him. The trendy watch wasn’t a suitable present for a man of his age, he probably wouldn’t be seen dead in something like that. Then Norman let out a gasp and his eyes filled up. ‘It’s beautiful,’ he murmured. ‘Exquisite.’
    Kip and Dad exchanged glances. Kip thought he was laying it on a bit thick for a twenty-quid digital with a plastic strap.
    ‘It’s nothing really,’ protested Dad. ‘There wasn’t a lot of time and—’ He broke off in baffled silence, because now Norman was taking the watch from the box – but it wasn’t the watch that had been in there before. It was a large silver pocket watch on a length of chain. Norman turned it over in his hand and he gasped again. ‘You’ve had it engraved!’ he cried.
    ‘Have we?’ asked Dad incredulously.
    Dad and Kip could only stand and stare as Norman read out what was inscribed on the watch’s silver case.
‘To Norman with much affection from all your friends at the Paramount.’
He looked up at Dad. ‘This is too much!’ he protested.
    Dad looked like he was in total agreement.
    ‘I … I don’t